Flexures for optical lens

ABSTRACT

An example optical substrate, according to aspects of the present disclosure, includes a support structure, a plurality of lenses, and a plurality of flexures. Each flexure is engaged with the support structure and a respective lens for allowing independent lateral movements of the lenses during assembly of the optical substrate with another layer of an optical assembly. A first lateral movement provided by a first flexure of the plurality of flexures during the assembly is different from a second lateral movement provided by a second flexure of the plurality of flexures.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. non-provisional applicationSer. No. 16/570,632 filed Sep. 13, 2019, which is hereby incorporated byreference.

FIELD OF DISCLOSURE

Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to flexures foroptical lens(es).

BACKGROUND

A head mounted display (HMD) is a display device, typically worn on thehead of a user. HMDs may be used in a variety of applications, such asgaming, aviation, engineering, medicine, entertainment and so on toprovide artificial reality content to a user. Artificial reality is aform of reality that has been adjusted in some manner beforepresentation to the user, which may include, e.g., virtual reality (VR),augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR), hybrid reality, or somecombination and/or derivative thereof.

The accuracy of the various optical elements included in the HMD, suchas lenses, polarizers, waveplates, etc. may be dependent on theparticular application. For example, some HMDs may incorporate aneye-tracking system that includes an integrated camera to track a user'seye movements. Thus, as the requirements and accuracy for theeye-tracking system increases, the accuracy required in themanufacturing and assembly of the various optical elements used by theeye-tracking system also increases.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-limiting and non-exhaustive aspects of the present disclosure aredescribed with reference to the following figures, wherein likereference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various viewsunless otherwise specified.

FIG. 1 illustrates a head mounted display (HMD), in accordance withaspects of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 2-5 are cross-sectional views of example optical assemblies, inaccordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an example optical assembly, inaccordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of an example optical substrate and acorresponding additional layer of an optical assembly, in accordancewith aspects of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various aspects and embodiments are disclosed in the followingdescription and related drawings to show specific examples relating toflexures for optical components of an optical substrate. Alternateaspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in thepertinent art upon reading this disclosure and may be constructed andpracticed without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure.Additionally, well-known elements will not be described in detail or maybe omitted so as to not obscure the relevant details of the aspects andembodiments disclosed herein.

FIG. 1 illustrates an HMD 100, in accordance with aspects of the presentdisclosure. The illustrated example of HMD 100 is shown as including aviewing structure 140, a top securing structure 141, a side securingstructure 142, a rear securing structure 143, and a front rigid body144. In some examples, the HMD 100 is configured to be worn on a head ofa user of the HMD 100, where the top securing structure 141, sidesecuring structure 142, and/or rear securing structure 143 may include afabric strap including elastic as well as one or more rigid structures(e.g., plastic) for securing the HMD 100 to the head of the user. HMD100 may also optionally include one or more earpieces 120 for deliveringaudio to the ear(s) of the user of the HMD 100.

The illustrated example of HMD 100 also includes an interface membrane118 for contacting a face of the user of the HMD 100, where theinterface membrane 118 functions to block out at least some ambientlight from reaching to the eyes of the user of the HMD 100.

Example HMD 100 may also include a chassis for supporting hardware ofthe viewing structure 140 of HMD 100 (chassis and hardware notexplicitly illustrated in FIG. 1). The hardware of viewing structure 140may include any of processing logic, wired and/or wireless datainterface for sending and receiving data, graphic processors, and one ormore memories for storing data and computer-executable instructions. Inone example, viewing structure 140 may be configured to receive wiredpower and/or may be configured to be powered by one or more batteries.In addition, viewing structure 140 may be configured to receive wiredand/or wireless data including video data.

Viewing structure 140 may include a display system having one or moreelectronic displays for directing light to the eye(s) of a user of HMD100. The display system may include one or more of an LCD, an organiclight emitting diode (OLED) display, or micro-LED display for emittinglight (e.g., content, images, video, etc.) to a user of HMD 100.

In some examples, an electronic optical component 145 may be included inviewing structure 140. In some aspects, the electronic optical component145 is a camera or image sensor for capturing image(s) of an eye of auser of HMD 100 for eye-tracking operations. In other aspects, theelectronic optical component 145 is a Simultaneous Localization andMapping (SLAM) sensor, such as an optical sensor, rangefinder, LiDARsensor, sonar sensor, etc., for mapping the user and/or environmentsurrounding the HMD 100. In other examples, electronic optical component145 may be a laser or other light-emitting device.

In some aspects, the electronic optical component 145 may include one ormore small-diameter optical components, such as a lens, a polarizer, awaveguide, reflector, a waveplate, etc. In some aspects, a“small-diameter” optical component refers to an optical component havinga diameter (e.g., aperture) that is 3 millimeters or less. As mentionedabove, as the requirements and accuracy for the various systems (e.g.,eye-tracking system or SLAM system) of an HMD increases, so too does theaccuracy required in the manufacturing and assembly of the varioussmall-diameter optical components.

Conventional optical component assembly techniques include forming largenumbers of optical components on a sheet and then assembling multiplelayers of these sheets to simultaneously produce several opticalassemblies, of which, each may be separated and incorporated into arespective electronic optical component, such as electronic opticalcomponent 145. Typically, the assembly of one layer of opticalcomponents with another layer of optical components involves analignment process to ensure that each of the optical components in onelayer are correctly aligned with a respective optical component on theother layer (e.g., a lens-to-lens alignment).

Some conventional alignment processes between layers during assembly aretypically performed by way of an active alignment system that utilizesone or more vision systems. However, for small-diameter opticalcomponents it is difficult to achieve the desired alignment across theentire sheet of optical components. For example, each optical componentmay be formed at a location on a respective layer within a certainmanufacturing tolerance. However, the tolerances for each opticalcomponent may compound across the sheet, such that, during assembly withanother layer, optical components in one area of the sheet are withinthe desired alignment, whereas other optical components in another areaof the sheet are not within the desired alignment.

Accordingly, aspects of the present disclosure provide an opticalsubstrate that includes optical components secured to a supportstructure by way of flexures that allow independent lateral movements ofeach optical component during assembly with another layer. As will bedescribed in more detail below, in some embodiments, each opticalcomponent may include an alignment feature that, together with thelateral movements provided by the flexures, allows each opticalcomponent to self-align with a respective optical component of anotherlayer during the assembly process.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example optical assembly 200, in accordance withaspects of the present disclosure. Optical assembly 200 is one possibleoptical assembly for use with the electronic optical component 145 ofFIG. 1. The illustrated example of optical assembly 200 is shown asincluding an optical substrate 202 and another layer 204. Opticalsubstrate 202 is shown as including a support structure 206, an opticalcomponent 208, a flexure 210, and an alignment feature 212. Layer 204 isshown as including a support structure 214, an optical component 216,and a flange 218.

In some examples, the support structure 206, the optical component 208,the flexure 210, and the alignment feature 212, together, are a singlemonolithic structure. The optical substrate 202 may be formed from anoptically transmissive material such as plastic, glass, poly-methylmethacrylate (PMMA), or other acrylic. In some examples, the opticalsubstrate 202 may be machined to form the optical surface of the opticalcomponent 208. The machining of the optical substrate 202 may alsoinclude simultaneously forming the flexure 210 as well as the alignmentfeature 212. Thus, in some examples, the flexure 210 and the alignmentfeature 212 are formed from the same optical material as that of theoptical component 208. In some aspects, the machining of the opticalsubstrate 202 to form the optical component 208, the flexure 210, andthe alignment feature 212 is done by way of fast tool servo diamondturning or multi-axis diamond milling.

In other examples, optical substrate 202 is formed by way of a mold thatincludes a shape that defines the optical component 208, the flexure210, as well as the alignment feature 212. That is, a liquid opticalmaterial may be provided (poured or injected) into the mold tosimultaneously form the optical component 208, the flexure 210, and thealignment feature 212. In some embodiments, the liquid optical materialis then cured to a solid state.

In some examples, optical component 208 generally has a circular shape.However, in other examples, optical component 208 may be any of avariety of shapes, such as rectangular, oblong, square, oval, etc., inaccordance with the aspects provided herein.

The optical component 208 may be one or more of a lens, a mirror, adiffuser, a filter, a polarizer, a prism, a window, a beam splitter, adiffractive element, or the like. In some examples, optical component208 is configured to receive light and to direct/pass the light to acorresponding electronic component (e.g., a camera and/or image sensor).In other examples, optical component 208 is configured to receive lightgenerated by the corresponding electronic component (e.g., a laser) andto direct/pass the light into the environment.

FIG. 2 also illustrates the optical substrate 202 as including at leastone flexure 210. As shown in FIG. 2, flexure 210 is disposed between theoptical component 208 and the support structure 206 for flexiblysecuring the optical component 208 to the support structure 206. Forexample, flexure 210 is shown as being engaged with (i.e., coupled to)the support structure 206 and the optical component 208 to allow lateralmovements of the optical component 208 during assembly of the opticalsubstrate 202 with the layer 204. In some aspects, lateral movements ofthe optical component 208 may include movements along the X-Y plane. Insome examples, flexure 210 is configured to undergo deformation in theflexure itself to provide movement of the optical component 208 duringmating of the optical substrate 202 with the layer 204. For example,flexure 210 may compress on one side of the optical component 208 alongthe x-axis, while expanding on the other side of the optical component208 to allow movement of the optical component 208 along the x-axis. Insome examples, flexure 210 is a continuous structure that surrounds aperiphery of the optical component 208. In other examples, flexure 210may be segmented and may only be present for portions of the peripheryof optical component 208.

In some aspects, flexure 210 is configured as a spring, where athickness, length, or other aspect of the flexure 210 is configured tocontrol the amount of lateral movement possible by the optical component208 and/or the amount of force required for the lateral movements duringassembly.

FIG. 2 also illustrates optical component 208 as including an alignmentfeature 212. In some examples, alignment feature 212 is a continuousstructure that surrounds a periphery of the optical component 208. Inother examples, alignment feature 212 may be segmented and may only bepresent for portions of the periphery of optical component 208.

In some aspects, the alignment feature 212 is included in the opticalcomponent 208 to mate with a corresponding alignment feature of anoptical component of another layer. By way of example, FIG. 2illustrates alignment feature 212 contacting with the flange 218 oflayer 204. FIG. 2 illustrates alignment feature 212 configured as a bumpthat extends outwardly (e.g., protrudes). In this example, thecorresponding alignment feature provided by flange 218 is configured asa groove that mates with (i.e., contacts) the bump to form a couplingbetween optical components 208 and 216. In other examples, alignmentfeature 212 is configured as a groove that extends inwardly, where thecorresponding alignment feature of optical component 216 is configuredas a bump that mates with the groove to form the coupling.

In some aspects, the lateral movements allowed by flexure 210 along withthe alignment feature 212 are configured to provide for opticalalignment of the optical component 208 with the optical component 216during assembly of the optical substrate 202 with layer 204. In oneexample, optical alignment of the optical components 208 and 216 refersto an optical center of optical component 208 being on the same axis asan optical center of optical component 216.

With regards to layer 204, this layer is shown as including a supportstructure 214, optical component 216, and at least one flange 218. Insome examples, layer 204 is fabricated separately from the opticalsubstrate 202 and subsequently assembled with optical substrate 202 toform optical assembly 200. As shown in FIG. 2, the flange 218 isdisposed between the support structure 214 and the optical component216. In some aspects, flange 218 is configured to maintain a stationaryposition of the optical component 216 with respect to the supportstructure 214 during assembly of the optical substrate 202 to layer 204.That is, flange 218 may be configured to restrict (e.g., prevent)lateral movements of the optical component 216 along the x-y planeduring assembly to allow self-alignment by way of lateral movements ofoptical component 208 provided by flexure 210 and alignment feature 212.

In some examples, the support structure 214, the optical component 216,and the flange 218, together, are a single monolithic structure. Thelayer 204 may be formed from an optically transmissive material such asplastic, glass, poly-methyl methacrylate (PMMA), or other acrylic. Insome examples, the layer 204 may be machined to form the optical surfaceof the optical component 216. The machining of the layer 204 may alsoinclude simultaneously forming the flange 218. Thus, in some examples,the flange 218 and the optical component 216 are formed from the sameoptical material. In some aspects, the machining of the layer 204 toform the optical component 216 and the flange 218 is done by way of fasttool servo diamond turning or multi-axis diamond milling.

In other examples, layer 204 is formed by way of a mold that includes ashape that defines the optical component 216 and the flange 218. Thatis, a liquid optical material may be provided (poured or injected) intothe mold to simultaneously form the optical component 216 and the flange218. In some embodiments, the liquid optical material is then cured to asolid state.

The optical component 216 may be one or more of a lens, a mirror, adiffuser, a filter, a polarizer, a prism, a window, a beam splitter, adiffractive element, or the like. In some examples, optical component216 is configured to receive light and to direct/pass the light to acorresponding electronic component (e.g., a camera and/or image sensor).In other examples, optical component 216 is configured to receive lightgenerated by the corresponding electronic component (e.g., a laser) andto direct/pass the light into the environment.

The example of FIG. 2 illustrates optical components 208 and 216 aspassive optical components (e.g., lenses). However, in other examples,one or more of the optical components 208/216 may be an active opticalcomponent, such as an image sensor or light-emitting device (e.g.,laser). For example, FIG. 3 illustrates an optical assembly 300 thatincludes optical substrate 202 coupled to a layer 302, where layer 302includes an active optical component 304 disposed on a substrate 306(e.g., a printed circuit board, a semiconductor substrate, etc.) Activeoptical component 304 may be camera, an image sensor, an optical sensor,a rangefinder, a LiDAR sensor, a sonar sensor, and/or a light-emittingdevice, such as a laser.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 3, the lateral movements allowedby flexure 210 along with the alignment feature 212 are configured toprovide for optical alignment of the optical component 208 with theactive optical component 304 during assembly of the optical substrate202 with layer 302.

In some implementations, the alignment features included in the opticalsubstrate are configured to contact a corresponding set of alignmentfeatures included in another optical component to provide a kinematiccoupling between the optical components and to provide further precisionin their optical alignment. In some aspects, the kinematic coupling isdesigned to provide a reproducible and precise coupling between theoptical components. The design of the kinematic coupling may conform tothe principles of “exact constraint design”. In some examples, thekinematic coupling eliminates over constraint of the optical elementswithin a housing and may also be insensitive to thermal expansion. Thatis, as the housing and/or optical components themselves expand orcontract due to thermal variances, the kinematic coupling may maintain aconstant centration of the optical components. In some aspects, thekinematic couplings, as provided herein, may allow for sub-micronalignment of the optical components.

By way of example, FIG. 4 illustrates an optical assembly 400 thatincludes an optical substrate 402 mated with a layer 404. Opticalassembly 400 is one possible example of an optical assembly included inthe electronic optical component 145 of FIG. 1. The illustrated exampleof optical substrate 402 is shown as including a support structure 406,an optical component 408, a flexure 410, and alignment features 412A and412B. The illustrated example of layer 404 is shown as including asupport structure 414, an optical component 416, and alignment features418A and 418B.

In some examples, the kinematic coupling provided by alignment features412A, 412B, 418A, and 418B eliminates overconstraint of the opticalcomponents 408 and 416 when placed within a housing (not shown in FIG.4). In addition, the kinematic coupling provides for optical alignmentof the optical component 408 with the optical component 416. Asmentioned above, the kinematic coupling between optical component 408and optical component 416 may maintain alignment even in response tothermal expansion/contraction of the optical components and/or housing.

In some examples, each of the alignment features 412A, 412B, 418A, and418B have a physical geometry that aides in the formation of thekinematic coupling between optical component 408 and the opticalcomponent 416. For example, in one aspect, each of the alignmentfeatures 412A, 412B, 418A, and 418B may include a curved cross-section.In some aspects, the curved cross-section is a sinusoidal shape.

As shown in FIG. 4, the alignment feature 412A (configured as a bump) isincluded on a surface of optical substrate 402, whereas a correspondingalignment feature 418A (configured as a groove) is included on a surfaceof layer 404. Similarly, the alignment feature 412B (configured as abump) is configured to mate with corresponding alignment feature 418B oflayer 404. In some aspects, the alignment features 412A and 412B areconfigured to physically contact the corresponding alignment features418A and 418B at a region of maximum slope of the sinusoidal shape.

In some examples, the sinusoidal shapes of the alignment features 418Aand/or 418B are based on a cosine function. By way of example, thesinusoidal shape of alignment feature 418A may be based on:

$\begin{matrix}{{y = {A_{g}\mspace{14mu}{\cos\left( {\pi\; T_{g}x} \right)}}},} & \left\lbrack {{EQ}{.1}} \right\rbrack\end{matrix}$

where A_(g) is the amplitude and T_(g) is the period of the functionthat dictates the sinusoidal shape of an alignment feature configured asa groove. Similarly, the sinusoidal shape of alignment feature 412A maybe based on:

$\begin{matrix}{{y = {A_{b}\mspace{14mu}{\cos\left( {\pi\; T_{b}x} \right)}}},} & \left\lbrack {{EQ}{.2}} \right\rbrack\end{matrix}$

where A_(b) is the amplitude and T_(b) is the period of the functionthat dictates the sinusoidal shape of an alignment feature configured asa bump. In the illustrated example, the curved shape of thecross-section of alignment feature 412A is different from the curvedshape of the cross-section of corresponding alignment feature 418A. Insome examples, the shape of the cross-sections of correspondingalignment features is different such that, when assembled, thecorresponding alignment features only make physical contact at certainregions of the alignment feature (e.g., at a region of maximum slope ofthe sinusoidal shape). Thus, in some aspects, the cosine function (e.g.,EQ. 1) that dictates the shape of alignment feature 418A is differentfrom the cosine function (e.g., EQ. 2) that dictates the shape ofalignment feature 412A. In some examples, the amplitude of EQ. 1 isdifferent from the amplitude of EQ. 2 (i.e., A_(g) A_(b)). In otherexamples, the period of EQ. 1 is different from period of EQ. 2 (i.e.,T_(g) T_(b)). In yet another example, both amplitude and period of EQ. 1are different from the corresponding amplitude and period of EQ. 2.

Although FIG. 4 illustrates an optical assembly 400 that includes twooptical components 408 and 416, optical assemblies as provided hereinmay include any number of optical components including two or more. Forexample, FIG. 5 illustrates an optical assembly 500 that includes threeoptical components 510, 518, and 528.

Optical assembly 500 is one possible example of an optical assembly foruse with electronic optical component 145 of FIG. 1. The illustratedexample of optical assembly 500 is shown in FIG. 5 as including a firstlayer 502, an optical substrate 504, and a second layer 506. The firstlayer 502 is illustrated as including a support structure 508, a firstoptical component 510, a flexure 512, and alignment features 514A and514B. The optical substrate 504 is shown as including a supportstructure 516, a second optical component 518, flexure 520, alignmentfeatures 522A and 522B, and alignment features 524A and 524B. The secondlayer 506 is shown as including a support structure 526, a third opticalcomponent 528, and alignment features 530A and 530B.

As shown in FIG. 5, the alignment feature 514A of the first opticalcomponent 510 is configured to physically contact with correspondingalignment feature 522A of the second optical component 518. Similarly,alignment feature 514B is configured to physically contact withcorresponding alignment feature 522B. The alignment features 514A, 514B,522A, and 522B are configured to provide a kinematic coupling betweenthe first optical component 510 and the second optical component 518 tooptically align their respective optical components.

FIG. 5 further shows an alignment feature 524A of the second opticalcomponent 518 that is configured to physically contact withcorresponding alignment feature 530A of the third optical component 528.Similarly, alignment feature 524B is configured to physically contactwith corresponding alignment feature 530B. The alignment features 524A,524B, 530A, and 530B are configured to provide a kinematic couplingbetween the second optical component 518 and the third optical component528 to optically align their respective optical components.

Accordingly, fabrication of optical assembly 500 may include providingthe second layer 506, where the position of optical component 528 isstationary with respect to the support structure 526 (i.e., lateralmovements of optical component 528 are restricted/prevented along thex-y axis). Next, optical substrate 504 may be positioned over the secondlayer 506, where the flexure 520 allows lateral movements of the opticalcomponent 518 to provide contact between the alignment features 524A,524B, 530A, and 530B for the optical alignment of optical component 518to optical component 528. Next, the first layer 502 is positioned overthe optical substrate, where flexure 512 allows lateral movements of theoptical component 510 to provide contact between alignment features514A, 514B, 522A, and 522B for the optical alignment of opticalcomponent 510 to optical component 518.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an example optical assembly 600, inaccordance with aspects of the present disclosure. Optical assembly 600is one possible implementation of any of the optical assembliesdiscussed herein, including the optical assembly included in electronicoptical component 145 of FIG. 1, optical assembly 200 of FIG. 2, and/oroptical assembly 300 of FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 6, optical assembly 600includes a first layer 602 and an optical substrate 604. The illustratedexample of first layer 602 is shown as including a support structure605, an optical component 606, and a flange 608. The optical substrate604 is shown as including a support structure 610, an optical component612, a flexure 614, and an alignment feature 616. In some examples, thesupport structure 605, the optical component 606, and flange 608correspond to elements 214, 216, and 218, respectively of FIG. 2.Similarly, the support structure 610, optical component 612, flexure614, and alignment feature 616 correspond to elements 206, 208, 210, and212, respectively of FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 6, flexure 614 is configured as a continuous structurethat surrounds the entire periphery of optical component 612. Theflexure 614 is configured to allow lateral movements of the opticalcomponent 612 (i.e., along the x-y plane) during assembly of the opticalsubstrate 604 with the first layer 602, where a final position of theoptical component 612 is controlled via the alignment feature 616. Insome examples, one or more of the optical component 612, the flexure614, or the alignment feature 616 are rotationally symmetric about axis618 (e.g., an optical center of optical component 612).

As mentioned above, optical component assembly techniques may includeforming large numbers of optical components on a sheet and thenassembling multiple layers of these sheets to simultaneously produceseveral optical assemblies. The optical assemblies may then be separated(e.g., cut) from one another and then incorporated into an opticalsystem such as electronic optical component 145 of FIG. 1. In someimplementations, the optical components of one sheet may need to beoptically aligned with the optical components of another sheet duringassembly. Accordingly, aspects of the present disclosure provide anoptical substrate that includes flexures for allowing independentlateral movements of each optical component during assembly with anotherlayer. Together with the aforementioned alignment features, aspects ofthe present disclosure may allow for the assembly of an opticalsubstrate with another layer such that each optical component mayself-align.

By way of example, FIG. 7 is a plan view of an example optical substrate702 and a corresponding additional layer 704 of an optical assembly(prior to assembly). Optical substrate 702 is shown as including aplurality of optical components 706A-706X and a plurality of flexures708A-708X. Optical substrate 702 may also include support structures aswell as a plurality of alignment features (not explicitly shown in FIG.7). The structure of one or more of the optical components 706A-706X andthe flexures 708A-708X may be implemented by way of any of thestructures discussed herein, such as those described with reference tothe optical substrate 202 of FIGS. 2 and 3, the optical substrate 402 ofFIG. 5, the first layer 502 of FIG. 5, the optical substrate 504 of FIG.5, and/or the optical substrate 604 of FIG. 6. Thus, in some examples,each of the optical components 706A-706X and corresponding flexures708A-708X provide a single monolithic structure formed from the sameoptically transmissive material. As discussed above, optical substrate702 may be formed by machining the optically transmissive material tosimultaneously form the optical components 706A-706X and the flexures708A-708X. Alternatively, the optical substrate 702 may be formed via amolding process to simultaneously form the optical components 706A-706Xand the flexures 708A-708X.

The additional layer 704 is shown as including a plurality of opticalcomponents 710A-710X. The structure of one or more of the opticalcomponents 710A-710X may be implemented by way of any of the structuresdiscussed herein, including the layer 204 of FIG. 2, where the opticalcomponents 710A-710X are passive optical components, or the layer 302 ofFIG. 3, where the optical components 710A-710X are active opticalcomponents. The optical components 710A-710X may also be implemented asthe layer 404 of FIG. 4, the second layer 506 of FIG. 5, and/or thefirst layer 602 of FIG. 6. Thus, in some examples, the opticalcomponents 710A-710X, together, provide a single monolithic structureformed from the same material, where each of the optical components710A-710X are configured to maintain a stationary position duringassembly.

In some implementations, mating the optical substrate 702 to theadditional layer 704 includes positioning the optical substrate 702 overthe additional layer 704. The optical substrate 702 is then lowered ontothe additional layer 704, where each optical component 706A-706Xself-aligns with their respective optical component 710A-710X of theadditional layer 704. That is, the flexures 708A-708X may allow forindependent lateral movements of each of the optical components706A-706X during the assembly process. Due to the independent nature ofthe lateral movements, lateral movement provided by one flexure may bedifferent from the lateral movement provided by another flexure. Forexample, FIG. 7 illustrates a first lateral movement 709 of opticalcomponent 706A, provided by flexure 708A, to optically align opticalcomponent 706A with optical component 710A during the assembly process.FIG. 7 also illustrates a second lateral movement 711 of opticalcomponent 706X, provided by flexure 708X, to optically align opticalcomponent 706X with optical component 710X. As shown in FIG. 7, thefirst lateral movement 709 is in a different direction as that of thesecond lateral movement 711 (i.e., first lateral movement 709 is alongthe x-axis, whereas the second lateral movement 711 is along they-axis). Thus, in some aspects, the flexures 708A-708X allow forindependent lateral movements of differing directions. In addition, theflexures 708A-708X may allow for the magnitude of their respectivelateral movements to differ (e.g., optical component 706A may laterallymove a first distance that is different from the distance of a lateralmovement of the optical component 706X).

The functionality of one or more components described above withreference to FIGS. 1-7 may be implemented in various ways consistentwith the teachings herein. In some designs, the functionality of thesecomponents may be implemented as one or more discrete opticalcomponents. In addition, the components and functions represented byFIGS. 1-7, as well as other components and functions described herein,may be implemented using any suitable means. Such means also may beimplemented, at least in part, using corresponding structure as taughtherein. For example, a means for receiving, generating, directing,and/or focusing light may correspond at least in some aspects to, forexample, the optical component 208 of FIG. 2, the optical component 216of FIG. 2, the optical component 304 of FIG. 3, the optical component408 of FIG. 4, the optical component 416 of FIG. 4, the opticalcomponent 510 of FIG. 5, the optical component 518 of FIG. 5, theoptical component 528 of FIG. 5, the optical component 612 of FIG. 6,the optical component 606 of FIG. 6, the optical components 706A-706X ofFIG. 7, and/or the optical components 710A-710X. In addition, a meansfor flexibly securing an optical component to a support structure maycorrespond at least in some aspects to, for example, the flexure 210 ofFIGS. 2 and 3, the flexure 410 of FIG. 4, the flexure 512 of FIG. 5, theflexure 520 of FIG. 5, the flexure 614 of FIG. 6, and/or the flexures708A-708X of FIG. 7. Even still, a means for self-aligning an opticalcomponent may correspond at least in some aspects to, for example, thealignment feature 212 of FIGS. 2 and 3, alignment features 412A, 412B,418A, and 418B of FIG. 4, alignment features 514A, 514B, 522A, 522B,524A, 524B, 530A, and 530B of FIG. 5, and/or the alignment feature 616of FIG. 6. Thus, in some aspects one or more of such means may beimplemented using one or more optical components, layers, mediums, orother suitable structure as taught herein.

Embodiments of the invention may include or be implemented inconjunction with the manufacture of an artificial reality system.Artificial reality is a form of reality that has been adjusted in somemanner before presentation to a user, which may include, e.g., a virtualreality (VR), an augmented reality (AR), a mixed reality (MR), a hybridreality, or some combination and/or derivatives thereof. Artificialreality content may include completely generated content or generatedcontent combined with captured (e.g., real-world) content. Theartificial reality content may include video, audio, haptic feedback, orsome combination thereof, and any of which may be presented in a singlechannel or in multiple channels (such as stereo video that produces athree-dimensional effect to the viewer). Additionally, in someembodiments, artificial reality may also be associated withapplications, products, accessories, services, or some combinationthereof, that are used to, e.g., create content in an artificial realityand/or are otherwise used in (e.g., perform activities in) an artificialreality. The artificial reality system that provides the artificialreality content may be implemented on various platforms, including ahead-mounted display (HMD) connected to a host computer system, astandalone HMD, a mobile device or computing system, or any otherhardware platform capable of providing artificial reality content to oneor more viewers.

The above description of illustrated embodiments of the invention,including what is described in the Abstract, is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed.While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the invention aredescribed herein for illustrative purposes, various modifications arepossible within the scope of the invention, as those skilled in therelevant art will recognize.

These modifications can be made to the invention in light of the abovedetailed description. The terms used in the following claims should notbe construed to limit the invention to the specific embodimentsdisclosed in the specification. Rather, the scope of the invention is tobe determined entirely by the following claims, which are to beconstrued in accordance with established doctrines of claiminterpretation.

What is claimed is:
 1. An optical substrate, comprising: a first layerincluding: a first lens including an alignment feature; a first supportstructure; and flexures engaged with the first support structure and thefirst lens; and a second lens including a corresponding alignmentfeature, wherein the flexures of the first layer are configured to allowindependent lateral movement of the first lens for optically aligningthe alignment feature of the first lens with the corresponding alignmentfeature of the second lens.
 2. The optical substrate of claim 1, whereinthe alignment feature includes one of a bump or a groove formed on thefirst lens, and wherein the corresponding alignment feature the secondlens includes the other of the bump or groove.
 3. The optical substrateof claim 2, wherein the alignment feature comprises a curved orsinusoidally-shaped cross-section.
 4. The optical substrate of claim 1,wherein the first support structure, the first lens, and the flexurescomprise a single monolithic structure of optically transmissivematerial.
 5. The optical substrate of claim 1 further comprising: secondflexures; and a second support structure, wherein the second flexuresare engaged with the second support structure and the second lens. 6.The optical substrate of claim 5, wherein the second support structure,the second lens, and the second flexures comprise a single monolithicstructure of optically transmissive material.
 7. The optical substrateof claim 5 further comprising: a second layer including an opticalcomponent, wherein the second support structure is coupled to the secondlayer.
 8. The optical substrate of claim 7, wherein the first supportstructure is coupled to the second support structure.
 9. The opticalsubstrate of claim 1, wherein the flexures are rotationally symmetricabout an axis representing an optical center of the first lens.
 10. Theoptical substrate of claim 1, wherein the alignment feature isrotationally symmetric about an axis representing an optical center ofthe first lens.
 11. An optical substrate, comprising: a supportstructure; a plurality of lenses; and a plurality of flexures, whereineach flexure is engaged with the support structure and a respective lensfor allowing independent lateral movements of the lenses during assemblyof the optical substrate with another layer of an optical assembly, andwherein a first lateral movement provided by a first flexure of theplurality of flexures during the assembly is different from a secondlateral movement provided by a second flexure of the plurality offlexures.
 12. The optical substrate of claim 11, wherein the firstlateral movement is different from the second lateral movement in atleast one of magnitude or direction.
 13. The optical substrate of claim11, wherein each lens comprises at least one alignment feature foroptically aligning the lenses via the lateral movements during theassembly.
 14. The optical substrate of claim 11, wherein the pluralityof flexures are rotationally symmetric about an axis representing anoptical center of the plurality of lenses.
 15. An optical assembly,comprising: a first layer that includes: a first support structure; alens; and at least one flange, wherein the at least one flange isengaged with the first support structure and the lens to maintain astationary position of the lens with respect to the first supportstructure; and an optical substrate coupled to the first layer, whereinthe optical substrate includes: a second support structure; an opticalcomponent; and at least one flexure, wherein the at least one flexure isengaged with the second support structure and the optical component forallowing lateral movements of the optical component during assembly ofthe optical substrate with the first layer.
 16. The optical assembly ofclaim 15, wherein the optical component comprises at least one alignmentfeature for optically aligning the optical component with the lens viathe lateral movements during the assembly.
 17. The optical assembly ofclaim 16, wherein the optical component of the optical substratecomprise at least one of: a lens, a mirror, a diffuser, a filter, apolarizer, a prism, a window, a beam splitter, or a diffraction grating.18. The optical assembly of claim 15, wherein the second supportstructure, the optical component, and the at least one flexure comprisea single monolithic structure of optically transmissive material. 19.The optical assembly of claim 15, wherein the optical component and thelens are configured to focus light onto at least one of: an imagesensor, an optical sensor, a rangefinder, a LiDAR sensor, or aSimultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) sensor.
 20. The opticalassembly of claim 15, wherein the optical component and the lens areconfigured to focus light emitted by a laser or a light-emitting device(LED).